"Obiden"

So, this weekend brought the not-so-secret announcement of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as Barack Obama's running mate. Biden brings 35 years of Senate experience to the table. He has served as Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman for many years, which indicates his strong foreign policy record. He's tough in a lot of ways. He is honest and speaks the truth. But on the flip side, the addition of Biden to the Democratic ticket is all about experience, while Obama's campaign platform from the very beginning has centered around "change", the buzzword of this election season. Some voters might find it a bit contradictory, since Biden has served as a Senator for 35 years, even longer than Obama's opponent, Sen. John McCain. Also, during his own presidential campaign this past year, Biden was a vocal critic of Sen. Obama, citing his lack of experience and that "the presidency has no time for on the job training". Regardless of the differing opinions, Biden is an interesting choice. He is generally very articulate, but is known for saying whatever comes to mind. Due to this spontaneity, he has come under fire for some of the things he has said, especially during his campaign, like the Indian-American remark (which apparently was supposed to be a compliment), and about Obama being "the first African-American who's clean and articulate and a nice-looking guy". On a lighter note, I personally was a big fan of some of his rather amusing one-liners he delivered at many of last year's debates, particularly when he said: "Rudy Giuliani only mentions three things in a sentence: a noun, a verb, and 9/11." Anyhow, we'll see if this affects McCain's choice for his VP candidate. The Democratic National Convention kicks off today in Denver. Get ready for some big speeches and lots of confetti! (and a lot more, but I'm just keeping it simple) I'm not sure how much of the conventions I'm going to watch this election cycle. Last time, I watched both in a fairly detailed manner, but that was when I actually had free time. And plus, school's starting, so that complicates things. More on that later this week.
Concluding yesterday was the 2008 Olympic Games, where, just like the opening, Beijing put on a spectacular closing ceremony. In accordance with tradition, the next summer host city, London, provided a little preview, complete with David Beckham popping out of a double decker bus and then kicking a soccer ball into a crowd of volunteers. :) Like always, there were many stories that defined these Games, from Michael Phelps' 8 for 8, to Usain Bolt's 3 golds/world records, to China's dominance, specifically in gymnastics (despite the age controversy) & diving, and plenty others. What matters most is that athletes came together from all over the globe, put aside their differences, and competed for their country. These countless stories of athletes, some who won loads of medals and most who just came to represent their country, as well as the diversity and commitment of the athletes, truly define the importance of the Olympic Games. There's really nothing else quite like the Olympics. As an Olympian or as a spectator, you always have to remember the Olympic Creed: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." One of my favorite US Winter Olympians, Apolo Anton Ohno, put it well: "It's not about winning medals. It's about overcoming obstacles, whatever they may be." Bottom line, the Olympics always make me feel good inside, even with all the chaos and suffering in our world.